Solved "Windows Explorer has stopped Working"

[crgibson]

I just started having "Windows Explorer has stopped Working" show each time I right click any drive or folder in the left hand column of explorer. Attached snip from event viewer doesn't tell ME what to do, if anything.

I have run SFC /Scannow a couple of time but nothing shows as needing repair or replacement.

Thanks for any help.

 

[marsmimar]

If you haven't already done so, run a full scan with your updated anti-virus suite to rule out malware. Since no anti-malware product is 100% effective 100% of the time, it wouldn't hurt to run a couple more on-demand scans just to double check your primary product. These free utilities are recommended.

Malwarebytes

ESET Online Scanner

HitmanPro

SuperAntispyware

Another possibility is that sometimes a "Windows Explorer has stopped working" error message can be traced back to an application conflict. I'd suggest trying a clean boot (AKA clean startup) to see if some problematic app can be isolated.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...ation-conflicts-performing-clean-startup.html

 

[adelejukerberg]

Looks like you are affected by a virus..try to run your anti-virus. Hope it will do the needful!

 

[crgibson]

marsmimar - adelejukerberg

Thanks for your replys. Malwarebytes and SuperAntispyware run on a schedule each night. Nothing found. Just finished doing a Clean Startup but nothing has changed. ESET Online found nothing but HitmanPro found 1 Traces (see attached).

I went to the registry and found that this is a downloader. See attached.

Question: what do I do about it?

Thanks for the help.

 

[marsmimar]

I'm guessing that you've visited the Softonic website before and downloaded some programs or apps. If so, Softonic installed its downloader to make those downloads easier/faster. You can either leave the downloader as is or uninstall it. If you ever revisit Softonic and download other programs, the downloader will be reinstalled.

Here are a few more things to try to solve this problem:

Windows Explorer Has Stopped Working Fix

If all else fails you might consider a repair install. It should fix your Windows 7 and preserve your user accounts, data, programs, system drivers, etc.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

 

[crgibson]

marsmimar - Thanks for your suggestions. I tried "Windows Explorer Has Stopped Working Fix" (some of them
more than once) but nothing has helped. I will try the repair install next, but will have to wait for few days. Will post a reply with results.

Thanks again.

 

[crgibson]

PROBLEM SOLVED!!!!!!!!!!

Before doing a repair install I tried a few things. I remember installing the new SpyBot 2 the day before I starting the problem.

It turns out that if you go to Start Center/Advanced Tools/Settings/System Integration and click on uninstall Windows Explorer integration it solves the "Windows Explorer Has Stopped Working" problem.

Hope this helps someone else with this problem.

 

[marsmimar]

Excellent detective work! Thanks for posting the fix.